Skip to content
The Spool

The Spool

Unraveling Pop Culture One Thread at a Time
Main navigation
  • Podcasts
    • More of a Comment Really
    • Hall of Faces
  • Movies
  • TV
  • Patreon
  • News
    • Awards
  • About
  • Contact

black

“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” finds heat in the blues

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
T T Read More

Viola Davis and the late, great Chadwick Boseman turn in impressive performances in George C. Wolfe’s vibrant adaptation of the August Wilson play.

Ashley Lara Posted on December 17, 2020December 17, 2020

“Alex Wheatle” is the rare stumble in Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe”

Small Axe: Alex Wheatle
T T Read More

Steve McQueen’s anthology about Black life in London has its low point in a truncated biopic about the acclaimed British author.

Jonah Koslofsky Posted on December 11, 2020December 11, 2020

TIFF 2020: “Concrete Cowboy” is an enlightening coming-of-age drama

TIFF Concrete Cowboy
T T Read More

Caleb McLaughlin and Idris Elba star in this promising directorial debut about modern-day cowboys.

Shane Slater Posted on September 15, 2020September 15, 2020

TIFF 2020: “One Night in Miami” eloquently speaks out for racial justice

TIFF 2020 One Night in Miami
T T Read More

Regina King’s directorial debut delivers a resonant message through a phenomenal cast and thought-provoking screenplay.

Shane Slater Posted on September 11, 2020September 11, 2020

“John Lewis: Good Trouble” calls us to action through the past of an icon

John Lewis Good Trouble
T T Read More

Dawn Porter offers up a heartfelt, accessible tribute to one of Congress’ most stalwart Civil Rights leaders.

Jonah Koslofsky Posted on July 3, 2020July 3, 2020

“Sherman’s Showcase Spectacular” celebrates a belated Black History Month

Sherman's Showcase Spectacular
T T Read More

IFC’s irreverently absurd Soul Train pastiche returns for a one-off special as inventive as it is occasionally overlong.

Tim Stevens Posted on June 19, 2020June 20, 2020

“Miss Juneteenth” is a charming ode to Black womanhood

Miss Juneteenth
T T Read More

Channing Godfrey Peoples makes her debut with an emotional, inspiring tale of the complicated roads Black women must walk in America.

Oluwatayo Adewole Posted on June 18, 2020June 18, 2020

Spike Lee heads to Vietnam in the bracing, powerful “Da 5 Bloods”

Da 5 Bloods
T T Read More

Spike Lee explores the painful history of Blackness in American warfare with this lengthy, but gripping, Vietnam epic.

Oluwatayo Adewole Posted on June 12, 2020June 18, 2020

“Young Soul Rebels” is an essential piece of Black Queer Resistance

Young Soul Rebels
T T Read More

Isaac Julien’s British coming-of-age drama centers Black and Queer people in all their complexities.

Oluwatayo Adewole Posted on June 9, 2020June 9, 2020

Reexamining the anti-racist messaging of HBO’s “Whitewash”

Whitewash
T T Read More

Lambasted at the time for not being direct enough about race, HBO’s animated short takes on new significance in a post-BLM America.

Sylvie Soulet Posted on June 8, 2020July 2, 2020

“I May Destroy You” is a staggering work from Michaela Coel

I May Destroy You
T T Read More

The star of Chewing Gum returns with a riveting new series that illuminates society’s indictment of Black bodies.

Beau North Posted on June 5, 2020July 2, 2020

Rest in peace Annalise Keating, the heart of “How to Get Away With Murder”

How to Get Away With Murder
T T Read More

In the wake of the series finale, we look back on what made Viola Davis’ character so iconic.

Reyzando Nawara Posted on May 15, 2020May 15, 2020

“Bull” grabs its audiences by the horns and doesn’t let go

Bull
T T Read More

Annie Silverstein’s delicate, uncompromising drama uses the subculture of Black rodeo to paint an aching picture of loss, time and poverty.

Clint Worthington Posted on May 3, 2020May 3, 2020

“Da Sweet Blood of Jesus” Is Bloody, Weird, Pure Spike Lee

Da Sweet Blood of Jesus
T T Read More

Spike Lee’s Kickstarted remake of Ganja & Hess is more interesting than its negative reception belies.

Rick Kelley Posted on March 30, 2020March 30, 2020

“Passing Strange” Brings Lee to Broadway

Passing Strange
T T Read More

Spike Lee’s filmed version of the Broadway rock musical captures the immediacy of the show in his own imitable style.

B.L. Panther Posted on March 29, 2020March 30, 2020

SXSW: “A Most Beautiful Thing” Kinda Rows In Place

SXSW A Most Beautiful Thing
T T Read More

Mary Mazzio’s inspirational sports doc is as empowering as it is occasionally muddled.

Douglas Laman Posted on March 14, 2020March 14, 2020

“Do the Right Thing” Remains Spike Lee’s Masterpiece

Do the Right Thing
T T Read More

Black cinema (and American cinema as a whole) hasn’t been the same since the release of Spike Lee’s revolutionary New York drama.

Robert Daniels Posted on March 14, 2020March 14, 2020

The Historically-Black College Politics of “School Daze”

School Daze
T T Read More

Spike Lee’s third film is a caustic, exuberant exploration of the politics of race in the ’80s, from colorism to the effectiveness of activism.

Daphnee McMaster Posted on March 9, 2020March 9, 2020

Posts navigation

Previous1 2 Next
© 2021 The Spool. Podcast logo by Josh Hollis. Made with love by Pixelgrade
Footer navigation
  • About
  • Contact
Secondary navigation
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Mail
  • Feed
  • Patreon
  • Search

Begin typing your search above and press return to search. Press Esc to cancel.